If you picked the wrong entry gate on your Vietnam e‑visa form, the visa does not become invalid on its own. The official evisa.gov.vn FAQ ties an e‑visa to the government’s list of border gates, and nothing in the official text makes one declared gate mandatory. Agencies disagree on whether officers check it, so I always pick the gate I will really use, for example Huu Nghi on the China border.
Which gates on the China border accept a Vietnam e‑visa?
Seven land gates on the Chinese border take an e‑visa. Huu Nghi has been on the list since 15 August 2023, per the official portal, and Resolution 389/NQ-CP of 2 December 2025 added four more. On the Chinese side, Huu Nghi is called Youyi Guan, next to Pingxiang, on the road to Nanning.
- Huu Nghi, Lang Son province
- Lao Cai, Lao Cai province
- Mong Cai, Quang Ninh province
- Dong Dang, Lang Son province (added December 2025)
- Lao Cai railway, Lao Cai province (added December 2025)
- Tra Linh, Cao Bang province (added December 2025)
- Thanh Thuy, Tuyen Quang province (added December 2025)
Dong Dang sits in the same province as Huu Nghi but is a separate row on the list, so on the form choose the row by its exact name. My guide to the China border crossings covers the gates and the Hanoi to Nanning train.
Does the gate on the e‑visa form have to match where you cross?
Officially, nothing says so. The portal requires only that an e‑visa is used at a gate from the approved list, and that list has 83 gates: 17 airports, 27 land crossings and 39 seaports. Travel agencies split into two camps, and neither cites an official document. My list of all 83 e‑visa entry points shows each gate by province.
Some agencies write that you will be turned away at any gate other than the one you declared. Others write that since August 2023 the visa no longer shows a gate at all, so any listed gate works. No documented refusal turns up in public sources; every story comes from agency retellings.
With the rule unsettled, the sensible policy is to declare the gate you will really use. It costs nothing and it removes the question before you reach the border.
What happens at a gate that is not on the list?
An e‑visa does not work at a gate outside the approved list, because the portal says it can only be used at listed gates. If your plan moves to such a gate, you need a new application and a new fee: $25 for a single entry or $50 for multiple entries, and the fee is not refunded even when an application is rejected.
The portal’s FAQ does not describe a way to edit a visa that is already issued, and this is where people usually write to me, because the first fee is gone and the day at the border is lost. You can refile on evisa.gov.vn in one evening if you have a card the portal accepts. At BestBus Vietnam I handle the 90-day e‑visa: I fill in the form, pay the fee with my own card and set the gate to match your route. Send your travel dates on WhatsApp and I will tell you what is realistic.
Step by step: how to choose and check your gate
The gate is one field in the form, and checking it takes five actions. The only reference you need is the approved list on evisa.gov.vn.
- Decide where you will cross before you start: an airport or a land gate.
- On evisa.gov.vn, pick the gate by its exact name from the list, for example Huu Nghi.
- Re-read the gate name before you pay.
- Download the visa PDF, see whether it shows an entry gate, and print it. At a land gate, keep the printout in your hand next to your passport.
- If your route changes before you leave, check the new gate against the official list.
On my Hanoi to Huu Nghi runs the day takes about 15 hours, from a 6:00 pickup to a return by 21:00. There is no slack to fix a wrong gate at the border. The visa run from Hanoi runs on request, so the first step is your date and departure city.
Quick rules before you leave
Declare the gate you will really use, and check any backup gate against the official list before you travel. For Huu Nghi, choose the row named Huu Nghi. Keep a printed visa with you. If your plan moves to a gate outside the list, refile before you leave and keep a few days in hand.
A wrong gate costs you a day, and on a China run the day is already long. The form you can file alone with the steps above. The part I take over is the fee, the gate and the timing: tell me your departure city on WhatsApp and I will say which run fits.
Frequently asked questions
Can I leave Vietnam through a different gate than I entered?
Yes. The evisa.gov.vn FAQ says you can exit through any gate on the approved list, and it does not have to be the gate you entered through.
How long is a Vietnam e‑visa valid and how early can I apply?
It is valid for up to 90 days, and you can apply up to one year before entry. The visa must end at least 30 days before your passport expires, as the portal FAQ states.
How long does an e‑visa take to arrive?
Travel portals commonly quote up to three working days. Apply a week before departure so you have room to fix any mistake.
What time does the Huu Nghi gate open?
Travel media usually give 7:00 to 19:00. Confirm the hours with your transport provider before you travel.
